SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – By virtue of a 74-56 win Saturday at Illinois Springfield, the Maryville women's basketball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play 3-0 for the first time in program history. Madyson Rigdon led four Saints in double figures with a season-high 18 points. Lindsey Schadewalt sank 4-of-5 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Claire Lueken added 11 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds, while Hadley Crosier tallied a season-best 10 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints jumped out of the gate by scoring the first seven points of the contest. Gracie Gopalan scored on a drive, and Alicia Burgos knocked down two free throws. Schadewalt drilled a 3-pointer to give Maryville a 7-0 lead. UIS closed the gap to one but the Saints responded. Ridgon and Lueken sank back-to-back jumpers, and a layup by Olivia Hahn staked the Saints to a 17-9 lead.
 
UIS got within two points before three Maryville free throws and a layup by Schadewalt put the margin back to 22-15. Schadewalt nailed a triple and a Hadley Crosier bucket in traffic gave the Saints a 27-18 lead. Maryville took over with a 13-1 push late in the second as the Saints defense forced nine straight UIS misses and three turnovers. The Saints built a 40-26 advantage going into the half as UIS only made five field goals in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Prairie Stars made a push and got within five points but Crosier scored on consecutive trips for a 48-39 edge. A late bucket by Lueken handed the Saints a 52-43 cushion heading into the final 10 minutes. The hosts again trimmed the deficit to 59-54 before the Saints took control with a 15-2 run to end the game. Schadewalt scored on a layup, and Rigdon followed in the paint. UIS scored with 2:52 left to make it 63-56 but those would prove to be the final points by the home side. A triple by Schadewalt pushed the advantage to double digits at 66-56. The trey sparked an 11-0 surge to end the game. Rigdon took over with three straight baskets, and two free throws by Gopalan sealed the victory.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Madyson Rigdon - 18
Rebounds: Claire Lueken and Annika Pluemer - 7
Assists: Lindsey Schadewalt - 3
3-Pointers: Lindsey Schadewalt - 4
Steals: Gracie Gopalan - 2
Blocked Shots: Alicia Burgos - 3
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 7-1, 3-0 GLVC
Illinois Springfield: 3-6, 1-3 GLVC
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints are back in Moloney Arena Tuesday, Dec. 9, for the rescheduled game against city-rival Missouri-St. Louis in a 5:15 pm tip.